John
John first experienced depression when he was in his late thirties. He had been feeling overwhelmed about his job and persistently on edge. He couldn’t understand what was wrong with him. Eventually he made an appointment with his GP who prescribed Valium (diazepam). He took this for some years, but eventually became concerned about relying on it and decided to stop taking it. He attended a support group to help him, and after that only took diazepam occasionally. He was offered psychotherapy but found it unhelpful. In the last 5 years his current GP prescribed fluoxetine, which he takes daily.
John first experienced depression in his late thirties when was persistently feeling on edge and anxious. He did not understand what was wrong with him. He kept feeling that things weren’t right. Eventually he decided to go and see his doctor who prescribed him Valium (diazepam). He found that after 3 weeks he began to feel the benefits; his mood lifted and everything felt alright.’ and took it for several years. He explained that in those days the term depression wasn’t used, but it was referred to more generally as anxiety’. It was common for doctors to prescribe Valium (diazepam), although nowadays it is known to be addictive and is only prescribed for very short periods of a time, usually in a crisis.
I didn’t know what was wrong with me. And as I say the doctor said to me initially oh its anxiety, you know, you want a tablet just to calm you down. And my doctor in those days he was a doctor that shelled out tablets, you know, like Smarties and of course you keep popping them don’t you.’
John became aware that he had become reliant on Valium and decided to cut down and eventually stop. He found it difficult when reducing the dose and experienced palpitations and his mood dipped. He said he felt that there was something missing when he stopped taking them. However, he persevered and remained off them for some time.
He has spoken to other people in group therapies and has been referred to psychiatrists on a number of occasions. He explained that when he was not taking antidepressants he went to see a psychiatrist but had not it helpful. He had felt ashamed of his depression as he felt that it is sometimes perceived as a sign of weakness but feels that the stigma towards depression is reducing. His wife has been very supportive.
When he experienced a further episode of depression he asked for more Valium to manage his symptoms but his new doctor was reluctant to prescribe it. At the time John was not offered any alternative treatment. He explained that his depression was often a response to unhappiness at work and he felt a lot better after his retirement. However in recent times his symptoms returned, his doctor prescribed fluoxetine. On fluoxetine he said that after 3 weeks the black cloud’ that had been hanging over him started to lift and that his life began to feel more manageable. After some time taking fluoxetine he noticed that his mood lowered but increasing the dose on the advice of his GP has been effective. As he has become older John has begun to experience a number of other health problems that can sometimes get him down, but the current dose of fluoxetine helps keep his mood steady.